You know that most of the risk you face on the road comes from other drivers. After all, most accidents happen because of human error. If you don’t make a mistake, odds are that you’re going to get injured in an accident after someone else commits an error.
One way to reduce the odds of an accident is to work on becoming a better defensive driver. This may help you avoid those negligent and reckless drivers around you, keeping you out of a wreck.
Top tips to focus on defensive driving
The general focus of defensive driving is to anticipate mistakes. You want to see the hazard coming before you there. You want to be so focused that you can react as soon as possible. Here are some tips to help you along the way:
- Avoid distractions and remain focused. You always want to have your eyes up, scanning traffic ahead of you.
- Look for dangerous drivers. Someone who keeps drifting out of the lane, for instance, may be on their phone. Keep your distance.
- Don’t drive when there are issues that could impact your ability, such as being too tired. Defensive drivers must be awake and unimpaired.
- Don’t be afraid to drive slowly. Follow the speed limit. Give yourself the maximum amount of time to react.
- Stay at least three seconds back from the next car. This way, when they make an error, you can hit the brakes and stop before you get caught up in the accident.
These tips will help, but you can never guarantee you won’t get catastrophically injured because of someone else’s mistake. Be sure you know what steps to take to protect your future and your legal interests if you’ve been injured.